Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Chapter · 35:33-37:51

Jacky Fisher orders three experimental pairs of destroyers

Fisher's six ships compared three builders' hull designs under common armament and speed requirements, with a steep financial penalty for missing 26 knots.

3-inch Guns12-Pounder Guns18-inch TorpedoesDaring Class Destroyers (1893)Ferret Class DestroyersHavoc Class DestroyersHMS Daring 1893HMS DecoyHMS FerretHMS HavocHMS HornetHMS LynxJohn FisherJohn I Thornycroft And CompanyLaird ShipbuildersShipbuildingType 45 DestroyerYarrow Shipbuilders
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Notes

The first Daring-class destroyers displaced roughly 292 tons fully loaded, compared with about 9,000 tons for the modern Type 45 ships bearing the same class name. As Third Sea Lord, Jacky Fisher ordered Havoc and Hornet from Yarrow, Daring and Decoy from Thornycroft, and Ferret and Lynx from Laird. Ordering three pairs let the Royal Navy compare different builders' hull structures and shapes while keeping a common mission and broadly similar weapons. The ships carried a three-inch 12-pounder gun and initially had three six-pounders and three 18-inch torpedo tubes. Most later exchanged one tube for two additional six-pounders. The contracts required at least 26 knots, with roughly half the payment at stake if a ship fell short. All six achieved 27 knots.